This year we have had four candidates file for the two available positions on the Adair County R-II School Board. Those who have filed include Angie Perry, incumbent Brenda Kelsey, Kelley E. Church, and Brent Hettinger. Please remember to vote in the general election on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 for your local Board members.

If you are not a registered voter, the last day to register to vote in the general election is Wednesday, March 7.

BRASHEAR TOURNAMENT

The Adair County R-II 72nd Annual Invitational Tournament will be held from Monday, January 29 through Saturday, February 3 at the Brashear High School gymnasium. We will host eight teams: Bevier, Clark County JV, Douglass, Newtown-Harris, Novinger, Revere, St. Thomas Seminary and Wyaconda. The tournament brackets are included with this mailing so you can find game times, etc.

The admission fees for the tournament games are $2.00 for students, $3.00 for adults, $1.00 for senior citizens or $8.00 per family. Family is defined as parent(s) and child(ren) only. We hope to have good community support, as we always have, for the tournament games.

We also ask you to remember our tournament is centered around winning, as is true in any competition. More important than winning, however, is the attitude with which the athletes and fans approach the game. As fans we must do our best to set a good example for those around us. Cheer for your favorite team in the spirit of the game and leave the officiating to the professionals who are trained for the task. We wish for each team to play their best, and may the best team win!

ACADEMIC BOWL

Congratulations to the 2001 academic bowl teams. Junior high team members include Alicia Longano, Katie Thudium, Brooke Crandall, Jeremiah Osborn, Morgan Shahan, Brent Platz, Holly Hazen, Chase Cole, and Jared Osborn. The junior high team is sponsored by Becky Hazen. High school team members include Ben Bradley, Jesse Turner, Kelly Moore, Amber Dailing, Trent Platz, Chelsie Potter, Kate Slavin, and Charlotte Longano. Shaina Mountain and Amanda Mantlo were chosen as alternates. Rachel Turner and Jackie Knowles will be managers. Co-sponsors of the high school team are Carol Chambers and Janie Kurth.

TIGER PRIDE

The boys high school basketball team is currently ranked third in the Class 1A poll of the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. They finished 3rd in the North Shelby tournament with a 74-47 win over Marion County. They are currently 12-1 on the season. Congratulations to Nathan Kelsey on being selected as the KRES Athlete of the Week for January 8-12. Congratulations also to Trevor Mills on being chosen as the KIRX Radio Stations/Team Dannco Athlete of the Week for January 15-19.

The girls basketball team lost to Marion County 33-43 in the consolation game at the North Shelby tournament. They are currently 8-5 on the season.

2001 YEARBOOK SALES BEGIN

Yearbook sales will begin March 1 and continue until April 30. Due to rising setup costs prices will increase to $32 without a name and $34 with a name. Yearbooks with a name must be ordered by April 1. Yearbooks ordered on or after May 1 will be $34.

MENU

Breakfast/Lunch

Breakfast each day includes cereal, milk, juice or fruit. New regulations mandate the main entrée for the day must be placed on each tray (designated by * in daily menu).

We all like to hear the good things that are going on in our school. The state has been reviewing data from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) for a variety of reasons. One purpose was to identify school buildings which had the highest percent of students scoring proficient or above in the various content areas and grade levels. With this information they can look at what is being done in the schools for these students to do so well. The state grouped school buildings into three categories – buildings with less than 250 students, buildings with 250 to 500 students, and buildings with more than 500 students.

Our seventh graders ranked in the Top 10 schools as a result of their MAP Scores in Communication Arts and Science. We are so proud of our students. Improvement is an ongoing process; and the data shows that our staff is making a positive difference in student performance.

Community support is also important to the success of our students. One of our patrons, Doris Mountain, shared a story with me by Shirley Jackson:

It seems this family had a young son named Laurie who started kindergarten. After the first day, Laurie announced to his parents coldly, "I didn’t learn anything today, but the teacher spanked a boy."

Laurie’s father wanted to know more about this boy. Who was he? His son thought a minute and replied, "It was Charles."

As time went along the family heard many stories about Charles. He sometimes said bad words, or he misbehaved in class, and sometimes the whole class had to stay after school. That certainly accounted for why their Laurie sometimes was late getting home from school. Finally, Charles started behaving and even got to be the teacher’s helper.

PTA was coming up and Laurie’s parents certainly wanted to meet Charles’ mother. Laurie’s mother introduced herself to the kindergarten teacher. Telling the teacher how much Laurie enjoyed kindergarten. The teacher told Laurie’s mother that her son had had some problems the first few weeks of school but was adjusting and was becoming a good helper.

Laurie’s mom laughed and told the teacher she must really have her hands full with "Charles." The teacher looked puzzled. "We don’t have a Charles in kindergarten," she replied.

This story reminds us that things are not always what they seem. We need to check out the stories we hear. If you question something you have heard about a staff member or another student, stop in and talk with us. It is amazing how many misunderstandings are resolved with good honest communication. Together our school will only get better.